[betshellhaas]

Tapestry did not have a specific segment on special populations but we have touched on the subject multiple times.
1. Before class starts, ask students (with their eyes closed) to just place a hand on a part of their body that needs special attention today. This allows people to communicate an area of trouble without saying it in front of everyone. Then as the teacher paying attention to those areas throughout class in case anyone needs assistance.
2. Curvy or heavy weighted people being more insecure about themselves in a yoga class. Instructing the whole class to close their eyes when in a resting or still pose is great. This removes the temptation of competition and comparison. Also offering modification for these people because they typically will have less range of motion and movement around the body.
3. I recently was in a yoga class and really liked the way a teacher spoke about poses. She would say “take what you want from the pose and leave the rest.” This allowed students to understand that they did not have to stay in a pose until she instructed us out. This would be beneficial to say during maybe a senior citizens or beginner class. These students are less flexible, less athletic and, therefore, may not be able to do everything the teacher offers.
4. I would love to work with athletes. Personally, I like to push myself in yoga and try new things, which I believe most athletes would too. However, it would be hard to communicate that yin yoga is just as important as the heat and muscle building classes. Just as we need to raise our heart rate and sweat, we also need relaxation, stillness and quiet.
5. A main focus or goal at Tapestry is to make sure yoga is accessible to every body. This means offering modifications, props and assists when needed. Everyone CAN do yoga. If an individual is unsure if they are able to follow a basic beginner class they may need a private session to understand their own limitations and possibilities before entering a yoga class.

[betshellhaas]

I completely agree with Kimberly on allowing time for things to really take root within you. I have come into contact with a lot of different poses, sayings, cues and variations that I hope to one day integrate into my teachings. However, I believe you must know what you teach. When we step out of what we know, things can seem sloppy or even uncomfortable to the students. I have been in a class and wondered if I was doing something correctly because it felt wrong. I think it is important to understand how the pose should feel and how to cue people into it safely. Typically when I am creating a class I will do many things that are familiar to students but throw in one or two uncommon variations or a pranayama practice to keep them (and myself) excited and engaged. But before offering it to my students in a class, I have experienced it and practiced it myself.

[betshellhaas]

Planning comes very spontaneously with me. I enjoy creating yoga classes but I really need to let it happen organically. Sometimes I will sit down in meditation, with a stone that draws out creativity before even starting the planning process. Sometimes I will sit down and crank out 3 or 4 yoga classes at a time. I like having plenty of classes to choose from when one of my karma classes is coming up. Also, when having a variety of classes to choose from, it makes the practice part fun too. Some I have never practiced, others I have. This gives me an option for my personal practice if free flowing without structure seems difficult some days. I do not usually plan my cues, I allow that to come up organically in class. Unless there is something specific I want to focus on, I will bring that back throughout the class. I have found that I would rather have practiced the class before teaching it, however, time does not always allow that to happen. In such cases, I have studied the class before hand so I have a really good feel for it before teaching. One aspect I have been wanting to branch out in is asanas. I feel as if sometimes I get stuck using the same asanas too much. This is an area I would like to improve upon.

[betshellhaas]

I’ve learned a lot about setting and preparing the room. I take into account the type of class I’m teaching, whether it be in the morning or evening, I base the light in the room off of that. Typically, in an evening class I don’t even turn the lights on and allow the natural light to facilitate that. For mid-morning/afternoon classes I keep the lights on, we want people up and moving and ready for class to begin. For music I have been using my iPad and so far that has worked great for me. I’ve been creating playlists on iTunes and then put my iPad on bluetooth and I’m good to go! I have altered the loudness of the music during class. In savasana I might turn the music down more than I did for the class. Temperature is not something I’ve really had to deal with yet. However, I did a little when teaching a class outside. It was a warm day and I ended up with a sunburn on one of my shoulders. Therefore, going back I would have made the class at an earlier time. Another situation we deal with here at Tapestry is space. We can only fit about 10 people in per class. When we are getting full people sometimes have a hard time finding space for themselves and as the teacher, I try to make room for them. So far nothing has come up that I was not able to deal with. Each experience teaches me something new and prepares me more for the future.

[betshellhaas]

I believe anything can be a meditation. However, meditation is taking the time to sit in stillness with yourself, acknowledging thoughts that come in and allowing them to leave. It is about remaining in the moment and allowing anything to come up as needed. I used to work at an Outback Steakhouse and one of my jobs as a kitchen worker was to salt and wrap potatoes in foil. I always found this very relaxing and meditative. I would forget that I was working and really just start noticing the feeling of the potatoes in my hands and the smells of the potatoes. Meditation does create mindfulness because you’re focusing on the present moment and not the past or future. Mindfulness is all about being fully aware of the task at hand. My job as wrapping the potatoes might be considered a moving meditation. I very often view yoga as a moving meditation. I’m focused on my breath and allowing my breath to guide my movements. I’m focused on my practice and that is it. What is not meditation? That is a hard question to answer. You are not in meditation when you’re worrying about the past or future. You are not in meditation when you’re sleeping. You are not in meditation when you are multitasking. Give your meditation that mindfulness of exploring one task at a time. Give it your full attention and allow things to come up.

[betshellhaas]

There is a lot to consider when teaching outside of the studio setting. Last Saturday I taught a yoga class at a local farm/market. We did it outside in the grass near the barn animals. I had not seen the setting before getting there early Saturday morning. Some things I thought about were music, wind, making sure I spoke loudly and clearly and no props. I used the small speaker Kimberly gave us with my iPad to play music. Before the class even started I decided to use no music at all. The animals were making noises, the wind was blowing and we were out in nature, I figured that was soothing and calming for the class. It was a windy day so I was worried about everyone hearing me clearly. I worked a little harder at that than normal but no one said they couldn’t hear me. I made the class a very simple beginners class. No props were needed for the poses I offered. When I did offer a more challenging pose I gave an option for a modification. I really wanted to create a class that would get people moving from seated to standing postures but in a very simple way. We were out in the sun so I did not want people to be overly sweating from the practice.
I think it’s wonderful to go outside of the typical yoga studio and teach. It reaches people who may feel uncomfortable coming to a yoga studio. However, it is almost impossible to provide the props and mats, especially when you have no idea how many people may show. I always suggest promoting to bring your own mat and water. As well as making sure you have liability wavers that cover you in case of an accident and having people sign them. Another random thought I had, I was worried about my cheat-sheet paper (yoga sequence) flying away in the wind and how was I going to read it easily? I decided to bring a large stone to hold the paper down onto my mat. It worked very well and will remember for next time! I also remembered to bring information on my studio, Tapestry, to hand out. I really enjoyed teaching outside, I plan to do another class at the farm in June.

[betshellhaas]

This yoga teacher training has created many ‘ah-ha’ moments for me. First, the philosophy touched me deeply. It’s like I can see how I am suppose to travel through this life. A way of living that shows compassion, mindfulness and concern for others. It has made me want to be a better person and, therefore, I see myself slowly moving away from things that do not work for me anymore. I am having an easier time making healthy, good decisions for myself and leaving the bad habits in the past. Another ah-ha moment was when I was able to freely flow during my personal practice without any structure or guide. That was something I was unable to do before the training and I believe it has opened the door to allowing my intuition take over so I don’t think too much about it. I am so grateful for the process that is happening. I believe realizing what I have learned about myself helps me to grow as an individual. By finding myself more and more I begin to realize the core of who I am. I believe this is what makes a great teacher. Someone who is fully themselves, coming from a very humble and honest place. This gives me confidence in my knowledge and training.

[betshellhaas]

The way I learned to breath in yoga seemed as if it was a very gradual process. I remember in the beginning losing my breath often and having a hard time slowing it down. I also had a hard time breathing in and out of my nose. I would want to start panting just to catch my breath. It’s amazing how far I’ve come since then. I also relate the process of my breath with the process of my mind. Yoga slows the mind down, calming and centering it. As my mind became more clear and balanced I found it easier to control my breath. I really understood the difference between shallow and deep breathing when I was introduced to pranayama. It really made me work at controlling the breath and the 3 or 4 part breath definitely helped increase the depth of my breathing. After practicing this more regularly, I began to see a shift in the way I would breath during flowing sequences. I really allowed the breath to begin the movements, going slow and steady following the breath. This is my favorite way to flow! Tammy was a big part of this because she introduced me to yoga, pranayama and the importance of deep breathing. She has shown me many different types of pranayama and in which situations they may be helpful. I believe it’s important to express to students that the movement is done in conjunction with the breath. So maybe instructing “Inhaling to plank, exhaling chaturanga, inhaling upward facing dog…” and so on. I also really love the pranayama technique of putting your right hand on chest, left hand on stomach and breathing into belly, into chest and out of belly, out of chest. It’s a wonderful feeling to place your hands on yourself in a loving manner but also focusing on the breath and body. Checking in with yourself and observing how you feel. I think it is a beautiful thing when someone starts to learn the signs of their body. The breath says so much about us and how we are doing. I think it would be fun focusing on the breath for an entire class.

[betshellhaas]

I believe arm balances and inversions are asanas that students work up to. Typically, these poses are not included in a beginner class. However, there are asanas that build up to arm balances and inversions. These poses would be great as an introduction to those types of poses and allows students to gain strength and comfortability without actually doing them fully. If you are planning a class that includes arm balances and inversions but do not actually practice them yourself, I think it comes down to being very comfortable with talking students through those poses. Even if you do not practice you have to get a sense of how someone would come into them. I would then assist my students, not even putting a hand on them but standing by so they feel comfortable knowing I’m there to help. The benefits of arm balances and inversions is to build upper body strength, balance, core strength, confidence and increase focus. Eventually, I plan to incorporate arm balances and inversions into my classes but only when the students are ready. I think it is something people need to work up to so when they try they are pleasantly surprised with their abilities. I plan to incorporate these because I very much enjoy them. They are fun poses to do while also boosting your confidence and self-esteem.

[betshellhaas]

Luckily for me, I have an upper hand on anatomy because I am a massage therapist. Due to that fact, I have had a very extensive study of anatomy during my training about 1.5 years ago. It was so nice to have Anne come in and teach anatomy though. There were definitely some things I had forgotten and it was nice to have the refresher. I believe when you are working with the human body you are required to know how the body functions and moves. You need to know what is safe and what is not safe for the students who may not have any anatomy background. I do not feel any lacking in anatomy due to Anne’s class. I thought she did a great job of touching on what is most important to know for yoga without having to know everything. I also am lucky to have practiced in Tammy’s classes for the last five years. She was a personal trainer so alignment is very important to her and in her yoga classes. I have grown to find it is also very important for me in my practice. Alignment goes straight back to anatomy and to what is safe and effective for the body.
After working in the massage business for about 1.5 years now I have continually offered my clients different yoga poses to help with their areas of tension/pain. At first I was doing this subconsciously, that is just where my mind went. Now I realize how much it has helped me in becoming a yoga teacher. The two professions mix so well. I am blessed to help people find pain relief, relaxation and flexibility through massage and with this training I will do those same things through yoga.

[betshellhaas]

My typical yoga schedule already consists of different times of day. Tuesday it’s a 5:30pm practice, Wednesday at 8:30am, Thursday at 11am and 6pm. That is when I normally take classes at Tapestry. When I first started doing yoga at 8:30am it was difficult for me. I felt very stiff, inflexible and struggled getting my mind off of those feelings. The main reason for that is I would wake up and go, without giving my body the chance to wake up. Now I wake up at least one hour before to just allow the blood to start flowing before yoga. This class also uplifts my mood and energy level for the day. Late morning practices are my favorite. I feel most ready, warmed up and flexible at that time. However, I have noticed I can be tired after this class. I also love evening classes, typically, either slower flowing or yin. It prepares my body and mind to wind down for the evening, switching from work mode to finding stillness.

Teaching a class at 6am will be very different than a class 7pm. In the morning class I would want to create a peaceful environment that encourages a gentle wake to the body/mind/spirit. Allowing natural light into the room with upbeat, gentle music. This is where you can really set the tone of the day so I would want it to start out very gentle and then increase to flowing. At 7pm I think it’s important for people to slow down because they have been on the go all day. I think it would be great to start with some slow flow and move to yin postures. Slowly preparing the mind to quiet down and focus on the moment. I think teaching a class around 11am would be perfect for more advanced, heat and muscle building practices. Your body has been awake for quit some time and you are in the middle of your day.

I think gauging the room is very intuitive for me. Tapestry has limited space but in reality I think this helps me as a teacher because I greet everyone at the door, making a connection with each individual in the room and can assess a little better at what I think the class needs as a whole. I think setting the tone is all about some of the first few things done in the class. So if you’re needing to calm everyone down, play a singing bowl. If you need to energize the room, crank the music and start on your feet. Music is definitely what I will be using to help set the mood. At Tapestry for an evening class, Tammy will light candles. I love this too because it brings in that calming effect, already setting the tone.

[betshellhaas]

The role of assists in my yoga practice would be to help find the ‘feeling’ of the pose. I have noticed for myself when the teacher assists me it is like a new edge has been shown to me. This takes my poses deeper and allows my body to understand what the pose should feel like. I have found assists to be very helpful in taking my practice deeper. As a student, it is easy to get wrapped up in the thought of how a pose should look and, by assisting, the teacher is able to shed new light on where the focus should be. Especially for beginners I think it is easy to not understand your body in space and assists help to understand how it should feel, not look. I also enjoy assists because, being a massage therapist, I enjoy the touch. As a teacher, I plan for my assists to be gentle and light in touch. I also want to bring a sense of strength and protection to my students so that they feel comfortable to try new poses with my help. Alignment is a big part of my practice and I believe this is an area that will need assisting.

[betshellhaas]

I do plan to include music into my classes. As for genre, I am so excited to explore different ones to find that perfect playlist. Music really is limitless and I think it can bring so many different aspects to a class. For myself, I have noticed that it really depends on the type of class to understand what music will be played. I really enjoy upbeat music when attending a power or vinyasa class and slower, meditative music during a yin or slow practice. I also hope to find some mantra/chanting music to include in my classes.

Music, or lack of helps, to enhance the experience. I have found that during my own practice, I am in and out with the music. Sometimes I am hearing it loud and clear and other times it is as if I have tuned it out. I think sometimes my concentration on what I’m doing takes over and the music subsides. However, in moments of struggle music can push you to that next level of continuing without giving up. During the Ashtanga 101 workshop, there was no music at all. I did enjoy this silence as well. I do not think it is something I will always have in my class but I think it’s a great change to implement every once in awhile.

For my first Karma class I had last Wednesday, I picked a very meditative playlist because I really wanted the instruction and techniques to be focused on instead of the music. I think it’s a great idea to keep it simple in the beginning because our main focus is on the class and the instruction we’re doing. I plan to keep my playlists pretty simple until I feel I have a better handle on the class overall.

[betshellhaas]

I think my standpoint has changed over time. I originally started yoga as an athelete and came to yoga for the workout not understanding its many layers. As I have grown into yoga and started the Yoga Teacher Training process I believe I have become a mystic. I love the spirituality brought into yoga and as a mystic I look for those things going to a class. Realizing I am a mystic allows me to cultivate my authentic voice by expressing what is interesting to me. Bringing in pranayama, mudras, singing bowls, chakras, essential oils (the list could go on) is something that is important to me in my practice and my teachings. I believe students are drawn toward different teachers for different reasons. When someone is searching for what you offer it’s like a great happening and it resonates so deeply, that is what brings them back again. I believe it helps me play my strengths because I am also a massage therapist and Reiki Master. I bring spirituality into those roles as well and have become so comfortable with them that it will bring a sense of comfort to my yoga classes. I use these ‘tools’ already and understand them well that it would be easy for me to incorporate them into my yoga classes. I have thought about the fact that this may limit my opportunities as a teacher. Not at the studio but more of away from the studio. I have an opportunity to do a Karma class at the local library in June and I wonder if they would not appreciate the spirituality brought into the class but are looking for more of a workout. However, I believe finding the middle ground is a great place to stay when working in different locations. I do not look at being a mystic as if it would limit my possibilities. Luckily, at our studio in Troy we are all about the mystics. I have the opportunity to go whichever way I want when it comes to classes at the studio. This excites me because mystics are a very broad term and encompasses many ideas/tools/techniques and I cannot wait to explore the possibilities.

[betshellhaas]

I really enjoyed my mentoring call. If I were experiencing any concerns, resistance or just not understanding something I know who I can go to. The concept I am focusing on now is cueing people into/out of poses and stringing poses together. Hoping to gain more confidence, my own voice and becoming more comfortable with the teacher aspect of being a yoga instructor.

I am very lucky, my mother is my teacher/yoga instructor/mentor and not to mention best friend. She encourages me every day to find confidence in myself in this program and that I can always come to her with anything. Her style of teaching is influential in that she includes those eastern tools of meditation, mudras, pranayama, bandhas, mantras and more that are sometimes lost in western practices. Many of which I plan to incorporate in my classes.

Tips for my fellow learners would be to ASK. If any concerns, worries or just misunderstandings come up reach out to your mentor. They are there for us but may not know when we need them, it is our duty to call on them when we have any resistance.

As a yoga teacher and mentor I would want my students to know I am open to answering any questions they may have. To maintain a student-teacher relationship I would answer questions that the student can comprehend at that moment in their practice. Some of the material may be a little in depth for a student at that time so coming from a place they can understand is important. I think it’s also great to make boundaries of when I am available and when I am not for such inquiries.

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